Trowel and weeder



Nov. 8, 1949 N. E. BROOKE TROWEL AND WEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1945 Nov. 8, 1949 N. E. BROOKE 2,487,518

' TROWEL AND WEEDER Filed July 15, 1945v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nw INVENTOR. k mormanffiraoire Afrarrzey.

Patented Nov. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES ATENT oJFFic-E 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of gardening implements or tools and pertains particularly to an improved combination trowel and weeder.

:A [primary object of the present'i-nvention is to provide a trowel or trowel and weed removin tool, of --a novel construction whereby an extreme rigidity is-obtained throughout the length of the implement without having to use metal of excessively heavy weight, such a novel construction giving the desired rigidity I at the part of the implement where the body-or blade portion is joined with the tang by which the blade is-coupled with :a handle.

A principal source of annoyance associated with the use of trowels and similar tools which are pressed from sheet metal, is the extreme weakness to be found at the point of connection between the handle and the blade of the tool, as the result of which, when the tool is used in unusually firmground and it becomes necessary to impose a heavy strain on the handle, the metal fails at the point of connection between the handle and the blade and the tool becomes useless.

In the present invention the above stated annoyances are avoided by the novel construction 'of the implement wherein there is formed along the longitudinal center of the implement blade and the tang and throughout the length of both, a stiiiening rib which is unbroken through-out its length and which gives such extreme rigidity to the implement, particularly in the narrow portion where the tang joins the blade, that the applicationof strains greatly in excess of those 'everapplied to a hand implement of this character, will not-cause a breakdown of the structure and bending of the connection between the blade and tang.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in an implement of the character stated, a novel means of connecting the tang portion of the implement with a wooden handle whereby a firm and secure vjoint is established between the two parts by the use of only a single fastening element,

Still another object of the invention is to .provide in an implement of the character stated, a novel means of closing a sleeve-llike tang around a handle body so that a 'firm gripping action is obtained between the tang .portion and the handle, such gripping action being increased as the securing element is tightened in place.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the "foland weeder constructed in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the same. :Figure 3 is a view in top plan. l igure 4 is a sectional view taken transversely of the trowel on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail View in which the securing bolt is cut off below the head, showing the construction of the wings, the section being'substantially on the line 55 of Figure 6.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line B- B of Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a view in top plan of a trowel and weeder constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 8 is a View in side-elevation of the same.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-9 of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly 'to the drawing, the numeral it generally designates the body orblade portion forming the trowel proper. This blade is of substantial length as shown and it is formed or pressed from a body of sheet metal of desired weight and has extending from one end, the sleeve-like tang which is generally designated H and which forms a part of the sheet metal body of the blade.

'I-he tang it upon the back or underside I2, is of substantial length and there extends from the longitudinal side edges, the inwardly curved wing portions i3 which are designed to be broughtin'to edge opposed relation as shown in Figure 5 to form a complete collar in which 'an end of 'a handle body M is positioned.

The opposing edge portions of the wings l3 are relatively short as indicated. at 1'5 and each has the semi-circular recess l6 formed therein. These recesses combine to form an opening or space for a securing bolt [1 which passes-through the handle M and through the back 12 of the tang to receive the-securing nut l 8.

The bolt ll has a T head 19 which extends 33 .Q$ the opposing edges 15 and is of slightly arcuate form to substantially conform to the curvature of the handle and the collar portion of the tang. At its ends the T head 19 of the bolt has the sharply downturne-d tips 20 which bear against the surfaces of the wing and function to draw the wing ends in together as the head is drawn tight against the surfaces of the wings.

While the tang portion H is in the form of a collar to encircle the handle, it is not completely circular because of the fact that it is pressed longitudinally of the underside [2 to form the central longitudinal ridge 2|. blade portion 10, while it is of generally arcuate cross section as shown in Figure 4, is not a complete section of a circle but is pressed along its longitudinal center to form the ridge 22. Thus the portions of the blade at each side of the ridge '22 are curved and each may form a portion of a circle but they come together in such a manner that the cross sectional design of the blade is more in the form of a pointed arch. As is readily seen upon reference to Figure 1, the ridge portion 2| of the tang and the ridge portion 22 of the blade are in fact one and the same since the ridge is complete and unbroken throughout the length of the blade and of the tang, passing around the heel portion 23 where the tang joins the blade and extends at an oblique angle to the length thereof. By means of this angulation of the tang, the handle l4 when attached to the tang, extends at the required angle to the length of the blade to facilitate the proper use of the trowel.

At the tip or working end of the trowel blade the material of the blade is extended at each side of the longitudinal center to form the weeding tongue 24. The forward end of this tongue is provided with the relatively deep V-shaped recess or notch 25 whereby there is formed the pair of points 26 and the side edges of the recess or notch 25 are sharpened as indicated at 'Z'l so that deeply rooted weeds may be cut off below the surface of the ground to be conveniently removed.

To further facilitate the use of the weeder tip 24,- the points 26 are slightly turned upwardly as illustrated.

Figures 7 to 9 inclusive illustrate a modified construction of the combined :trowel and Weeder, the modification being made in the rear end portion of the structure where it is attached to the handle.

In this modified form the body of the trowel is generally designated 2! and, as shown, is of the same form or design as the body It. However, at the inner or rear end of the body '27 the integral tang extension 28, while it has the longitudinal pressed central ridge 29 which forms a continuation of the ridge 30 of the body, is not provided with side wings such as the wings l3, but

is substantially straight along its longitudinal edges 3| and is substantially semi-circular in cross section as shown in Figure 9.

The handle 32 lies within the channel-like tang 28 and is secured thereto by the bolt 33 which passes through a suitable bore formed transversely through the handle 32 and which has the head 34 of the arcuate form, the underside of which is formed on a smaller arc than the curved face of the handle which it straddles so that opposite end edges of the head will bite into the body of the handle 32, as shown in Figure 9, when the nut 35 is drawn up tightly against the underside of the tang 28 through which the bolt passes V as shown.

In this modified construction it will be noted Likewise, the

4 that the tang 28 is bent upwardly slightly from the line of the ridge 30 of the body portion so that the handle 32 will be maintained at a suitable angle to the underside of the trowel body to facilitate the use of the implement.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the implement of the present invention is so designed that it will have a maximum of strength, particularly at the point where this type of implement is usually found extremely weak, that is, across the bent or heel portion 23 where the tang angles ofi from the blade. By continuing the rib 22 through the length of the blade, the heel and the tang, an extreme degree of rigidity is given to the entire tool which makes it possible for the tool to withstand extremely heavy or great strains.

I claim:

1. A gardening implement of the character described, comprising a one-piece body formed of sheet metal and consisting of a relatively long blade portion of substantially arcuate cross section, a portion of the blade section at one end being extended to form a substantially arcuate tang portion, said tang portion being at a slightly oblique angle to the length of the blade portion and having a portion of each longitudinal edge extended to form inwardly curving wings whereby to form a handle encircling collar, the part of the sheet metal body at the joined blade and tang portions being slightly rounded to form a heel, the blade and tang portions of the body and the intermediate heel portion being pressed outwardly from the inner side to form a continuous stiffening ridge, the free longitudinal edges of the wing portions being disposed in opposed relation, each of said edges having a recess formed therein, and a bolt adapted to pass between said edges and lie in said recesses and to extend through a handle and through the tang portion to receive a securing nut, said bolt having an arcuate T head adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the wings at opposite sides of the recessed edges.

2. A gardening implement of the character described, comprising a one-piece body formed of sheet metal and consisting of a relatively long blade portion of substantially arcuate cross section, a portion of the blade section at one end being extended to form a substantially arcuate tang portion, said tang portion being at a slightly oblique angle to the length of the blade portion and having a portion of each longitudinal edge extended to form inwardly curving wings whereby to form a handle encircling collar, the part of the sheet metal body at the joined blade and tang portions being slightly rounded to form a heel, the blade and tang portions of the body and the intermediate heel portion being pressed outwardly from the inner side to form a continuous stiffening ridge, the free longitudinal edges of the wing portions being disposed in opposed relation, each of said edges having a recess formed therein, and a bolt adapted to pass between said edges and lie in said recesses and to extend through a handle and through the tang portion to receive a securing nut, said bolt having an arcuate T head adapted to engage the outer surfaces of the wings at opposite sides of the recessed edges, and the end portions of said T head being sharply turned inwardly to form pressure tips designed to draw the wings together around the end portion of a handle extending therebetween.

3. A combination trowel and weeder, comprising a relatively long trowel blade, means at one end of the blade for securing a handle thereto, a portion of the blade body at the opposite end being of a width materially less than the blade body and extending longitudinally from the central portion of the blade, the portion of less width having straight parallel sides, said longitudinally extending reduced portion having a substantially V-shaped recess cut therein the edges of the recess merging with said sides and forming spaced earth penetrating points, the edges of the V-shaped portion being sharpened, the trowel blade and the extended portion thereof being of substantially arcuate cross section, the said points being curved slightly away from the underside of the blade.

4. A trowel, comprising a relatively long body of substantially arcuate cross section having convergently arranged forward and side edge portions, each of said side edge portions converging with a short straight edge portion, said short straight edge portions being parallel one with the other and with the longitudinal center of the trowel body and a relatively deep V-shaped recess cut in the forward end of the trowel body between the short straight edge portions, the

NORMAN E. BROOKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 397,964 Brand Feb. 19, 1889 441,135 Cleves Nov. 25, 1890 1,065,456 Lowrey June 24, 1913 1,083,952 Surbaugh' Jan. 13, 1914 1,131,714 Kress Mar. 16, 1915 1,567,908 Brigham Dec. 29, 1925 1,814,216 Hartwell July 14, 1931 1,989,932 Junkin Feb. 5, 1935 2,025,254 Stuart Dec. 24, 1935 2,164,373 Ayliffe July 4, 1939 Beardsley June 19, 1945 

